Helleborus plant named &#39;MONOBYRN2&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Helleborus  cultivar named ‘MONOBYRN2’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctive pure white sepals with vibrant red-purple veins. Flowers produce a double or triple row of sepals. The new cultivar is a  Helleborus , suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Helleborus hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘MONOBYRN2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar was selected by the inventor, Richard Wells among a planting of seedling Helleborus hybrida. This new variety was discovered February 2012 as a single plant in a field of Helleborus hybrida seedlings.

After identifying the new variety as a potentially interesting selection, the inventor first organized propagation of ‘MONOBYRN2’ by shoot tissue culture at a commercial laboratory in Oregon, during 2012. The inventor continued controlled testing and propagation, assessing stability of the unique characteristics of this variety. Several generations have been reproduced and have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘MONOBYRN2’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘MONOBYRN2’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘MONOBYRN2’ as a new and distinct Helleborus cultivar:

-   -   1. Distinctive white flowers with pink picotee coloring     -   2. Vibrant pink veins on both sides of sepals.     -   3. Double flowers.

COMPARISON TO PARENT VARIETY

Parent varieties are unknown to the inventor.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘MONOBYRN2’ can be compared to the commercial variety Helleborus ‘Picotee Lady’, unpatented. Plants of the new cultivar ‘MONOBYRN2’ are similar to plants of ‘Picotee Lady’ in most horticultural characteristics. Plants of the new cultivar ‘MONOBYRN2’ however, differ in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety produces a double whorl of sepals, this         comparator produces a single whorl of sepals.     -   2. Sepal coloration of the new variety is more pure white,         compared to the green-white sepal coloration of this comparator.     -   3. Stamen coloration of the new variety is cream colored,         compared to yellow stamens of this comparator.

‘MONOBYRN2’ can be compared to the commercial variety Helleborus ‘Double Ellen Picotee’, unpatented. Plants of the new cultivar ‘MONOBYRN2’ are similar to plants of ‘Double Ellen Picotee’ in most horticultural characteristics. Plants of the new cultivar ‘MONOBYRN2’ however, differ in the following:

-   -   1. Mature sepal coloration of the new variety is white with pink         venation. The comparator sepal coloration is white with         Greyed-Purple or Greyed-Red venation.     -   2. Plants of the new variety are taller than plants of this         comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Helleborus ‘MONOBYRN2’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. The figures depict flowers at various stages of maturity. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describes the color of ‘MONOBYRN2’.

FIG. 1 shows a close-up of a mature flower.

FIG. 2 depicts a mature flower seen from the reverse, showing the exterior of the sepals.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘MONOBYRN2’ plants grown outdoors in Salem Oreg. Plants are approximately 1 year old, in a 1 gallon nursery container. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Helleborus hybrida ‘MONOBYRN2’. -   Propagation: Typically by shoot tissue culture.     -   -   Root description.—Single main root, moderate branching of             short lateral roots. Cream to tan in color, not accurately             measured with an R.H.S. chart. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Moderate.         -   Height.—Approximately 40 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Approximately 40 cm.         -   Branching characteristics.—No true branching. Leaves emerge             direct from base of plant, or infrequently occur directly on             the flowering stem.         -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 1 year. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Shape: Compound palmate. Quantity per stem: 1. Length:             11 to 14.0 cm Diameter: 15.0 cm Quantity: Approximately 20             basal leaves, per plant.         -   Leaflets.—Quantity: Average 5 to 7. Shape: Outermost             leaflets elliptic. Center leaflets broadly elliptic to             spatulate. Arrangement: Radial Average Length: Average 8.0             to 12.0 cm. Average Width: Average 2.1 to 4.0 cm. Apex:             Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sharply serrate. Texture of             top surface: Glabrous. Texture of bottom surface: Glabrous.             Appearance of top surface: Matte. Appearance of bottom             surface: Matte. Aspect: Flat to very slightly reflexed             downward. Color: Mature Leaflet: Upper side: Near RHS Green             137A. Under side: Near RHS Green 137C Immature Leaflet:             Upper side: Near RHS Green 137B. Under side: Near RHS Green             137D. Venation: Type: Palmate Venation color upper side:             Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A. Venation color under side:             Center vein near RHS Yellow-Green N144A, lateral veins near             Yellow-Green 147A. Foliage durability: Foliage has above             average resistance to environmental stresses, including             mechanical damage. Petiole: Length: Average range 18 to             25 cm. Diameter: 0.5 to 0.9 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green             145A Texture: Pronounced ridges, glabrous Aspect: Slightly             arched Stipules: Not observed. -   Flower:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—Winter.         -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Singly occurring radial             flowers. Half dome shaped flower with upward curve.             Typically flowers have a double whorl of sepals. Petals are             modified into nectaries.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—Approximately 2 weeks.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Approximately 15 to 25, depending on             environmental conditions, during peak flowering.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: Approximately 6.5 cm. Height: Average             range 3.7 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Length: Approximately 5 to 15 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 0.3 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.             Strength: Moderately strong and very flexible. Texture:             Glabrous Aspect: Slightly undulating.         -   Bud.—Shape: Spherical. Length: Approximately 3.0 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 2.5 cm. Color: Near RHS Green-White             157A. Rate of Opening: Approximately 3 to 7 days from color             flushed bud to open flower.         -   Sepals.—Quantity: Typically 18, 6 large outer sepals, 12             smaller inner. Length: Outer/Large: 4.0 cm Inner/Small: 2.7             to 3.2 cm. Width: Outer/Large: 2.4 cm Inner/Small: 0.8 cm.             Shape: Outer sepals broad elliptic, inner sepals elliptic.             Aspect: Upwardly cupped Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire, ruffled. Color: When opening: Interior             Surface: Near RHS Green-White 157D, veins near Red-Purple             70A. Exterior Surface: Near RHS Green-White 157D, veins near             Red-Purple 70A. Mature: Interior Surface: Near White N155A,             veins and margin near Red-Purple 70A. Exterior Surface: Near             White N155A, veins and margin near Red-Purple 70A. Flushing             near apex 70A. Aging: Interior Surface: Near White N155A,             veins and margin near Red-Purple 70A. Flushing near apex             70A. Exterior Surface: Near White N155A, veins and margin             near Red-Purple 70A. Flushing near apex 70A.         -   Nectaries (modified petals).—Quantity: Average 4 to 6.             Shape: Tubular. Length: Approximately 0.4 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 0.2 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A,             flushed Greyed-Purple N186A. Texture: Glabrous.         -   Fragrance.—None detected. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: Approximately 30 per flower. Filament             length: Approximately 0.4 cm. Filament color: Near RHS             Green-White 157C.         -   Anthers.—Length: 0.1 cm Shape: Linear. Color: Near RHS             Yellow-White 158D. Pollen: Amount: Scant. Color: Near RHS             Yellow-White 158D.         -   Pistil.—Number: Typically 4 to 6 per flower. Length:             Approximately 0.7 cm Style color: Near RHS Green-White 157C             Style length: approximately 0.4 cm Stigma: Shape: Club             shape. Color: Near RHS Greyed-Purple N186A. Ovary: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 144C. -   Other characteristics: -   Disease and pest resistance: Not observed to be susceptible nor     resistant to normal diseases and pests of Helleborus Typical pests     include Aphid and Thrips. The most common fungal disease is     Coniotyrium hellebore. The Genus is also known to suffer from     various Nematodes, as well as Pythium, Phytophtora and Rhizoctonia.     -   -   Temperature tolerance.—Typically USDA Zones 3 to 9.         -   Fruit/seed production.—Not observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Helleborus plant named ‘MONOBYRN2’ as herein illustrated and described. 